Earth event coming to Laker Elementary

TRACI ANDERSON

Published 11:43 am, Monday, April 25, 2016

As inhabitants of this planet, we know this variety of life is beautiful, but it's not without its complications as all the forms of life attempt to cooperate. Earth Day is a day set aside each year to celebrate all the planet has to offer, a day for cooperation in keeping the planet as beautiful as possible, and a special Earth Day event offering a wide variety of fun and educational activities is coming to Laker Elementary Saturday.

"Embracing Our Earth  Preserving What We Have, Planning for the Future" is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the event is jam packed with presentations, demonstrations, student competitions, displays, and family activities focusing on alternative energy and wetlands. One of the highlights of the event will be the presence of the University of Michigan Solar Car and the race team.

The Michigan Solar Car Team, which started in 1990, is a non-profit, student run organization whose purpose is to design, finance, build and race a solar powered vehicle in several competitions across the U.S. and world. With a core group of about 40 students and a supporting group of another 100 team members, the Michigan Solar Car Team works year round to develop a new vehicle on a two-year project cycle. This year's vehicle, Momentum, has many space-age elements that people will have to see to believe.

The cars are quite unorthodox. They stand roughly three feet high and are ultra thin to improve aerodynamics and maximize surface area. However, if you're looking for comfort, these solar cars are far from comfy. Drivers lie flat on their back, looking out the windshield over their toes.

This year's solar car has three wheels instead of four, with two in front and one just behind the midpoint of the car. This improves the car's aerodynamics. The tires are 65 millimeters wide, closer to the size of a bicycle tire.

The car weighs about 700 pounds, including the driver, and has more than 3,000 solar panels that power the car. Up to 25 percent of the sunlight hitting the panels is converted to energy. The energy is fed to a battery that powers an electric motor, which drives one or more tires. Most solar cars can reach speeds of 70 to 80 mph.

Each year, the U of M Solar Car Race Team participates in the North American Solar Challenge "rayce" (a combination of "race" and the sun's "rays"). The race begins in Texas in July and ends in Calgary, Alberta, Canada 10 days later. A good showing will qualify the team for the World Solar Challenge, a race across Australia in September.

The team has had plenty of success in these races since 1990. In its first year, the team was a solar challenge rayce champ and took third place in the World Solar Challenge with the car "Sunrunner." In 1993, the team again won the solar challenge rayce with the car "Maize and Blue." In 2001, the team took first place again in the solar challenge rayce and took third place in the World Solar Challenge with the car "M-Pulse."

While racing the solar cars and winning is certainly an important goal for the Michigan Solar Car Team, the ultimate goal is educating the public about the potential of alternative energy resources and advanced technologies.

Along with the solar car, a hydrogen-powered car will be at the event compliments of Ford Motor Co.

Other hybrid/alternative vehicles will be on hand, as well, such as fuel cell, electric, and ethanol.

Also in the area of alternative energy, a wind turbine has been set up outside the Laker Elementary school as an eye-catcher to grab interest. Demonstrations and information will be offered about wind turbines during the Embracing Our Earth event.

Mr. Solar Dude, a retired educator and energy enthusiast, will be at the event to demonstrate various forms of energy. He will operate a train, power tools, and other items by pedaling a bicycle. He also will use solar and wind power.

Under the wetlands category, a rambling naturalist from Kalamazoo will stop by the Embracing Our Earth event to talk with people about the importance of wetlands. His name is Wil Reding and he will be playing a character called "Marsh Mallow Man." His costume includes a hat that resembles the Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat striped hat, a stuffed frog around his neck, and a monocle on one eye. He carries a backpack full of props to describe the various unique qualities and benefits of wetlands. He also addresses wetland destruction and the consequences. He does it all with a British accent.

"It's some tongue-in-cheek fun," he said. "I've been doing it for 15 years."

He said his unique presentation, which involves him handing out marshmallows, helps people remember the lessons he teaches.

He took the character name from a plant called the marsh mallow, native to Germany and France but found in Michigan. This plant has been used to make marshmallows in some areas, he said. Both the leaves and the roots of the five-foot-high marsh mallow plant can be used for medicinal purposes.

At the Embracing Our Earth event, Marsh Mallow Man will be roaming through the crowds doing presentations.

Reding also plays other characters that educate people about various aspects of nature. He is a teacher at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Other wetland-themed activities include a wetland simulation by Americorp; a live wetland animal mini-zoo featuring various animals found in a wetland; a wetland puppet show; walk-through water and earth tunnel displays by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; and a wildlife biologist demonstration.

Students will be able to participate in various activities at the Embracing Our Earth event, including a puff mobile (wind-powered sail cars) competition for fourth and fifth graders; a wetland float parade for grades K-3; an engineering a dam competition; and a K-12 art and essay competitions. There also will be energy carnival games and a DC derby. High school students will be doing alternative energy demonstrations.

Event organizers say donations are still being accepted to help pay for the many activities and presenters at the event. Businesses and individuals who would like to donate can contact Peggy Randall of the Huron Intermediate School District at (989) 269-3473 or Scott Whipple at HISD at (989) 269-6406.